Spinning apparatus

ABSTRACT

A spinning apparatus has a flyer which is rotated at high speed about a horizontal axis via a drive at one axial end. A yarn support is carried on the flyer by means of bearings and is provided with an off-center weight so that a yarn package carried on the support does not rotate. At least one filament from the package passes axially back through the device via a telescoping guide tube provided with a thread brake, then radially behind the yarn package at this end, and finally axially out of the apparatus in a passage formed in the flyer between two nested sleeves which constitute a tube coaxially surrounding the package. A corrugated stiffening element between the sleeves makes this tube extremely rigid. A scissorlike brake may be closed on the drive whorl and is provided with rollers or bumpers which, in the closed position of the brake&#39;&#39;s arms, push the drive belt out of engagement with the whorl.

United States Patent H 1 1 1 3,895,484

Greive et al. "H Jul 22 1975 [54] SPINNING APPARATUS 3,557,54l l/l97l Aucagne et al 57/5883 X 7 9 l9 4 G dd [75] Inventors: Aloys Greive,Munster/Westphalia 91 H 2/ 7 O endgc 57/58 86 X E w R i b th f Primary Examiner-John W. Huckert unswr O O ASS/Sid!!! Examiner-Charles Gorenstein ermdny Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Karl F. Ross; Herbert [73] Assignee: Hamel GmbH Zwirnmaschinen, D nO Munster/Westphalia. Germany 22 Filed: Apr. 11, 1973 {57} ABSTRACT A spinning apparatus has a flyer which is rotated at [2]] Appl- N04 349390 high speed about a horizontal axis via a drive at one axial end. A yarn support is carried on the flyer by [30] Foreign Application p Data meariils of btearings and is provided with anhoff-center weig t so t at a yarn pac age came on t e support I972 Germany 2217369 does not rotate. At least one filament from the packl. H 7 I 57 age passesaxially back through the device via a tele- 57/58 74 5 /58 m ss g2 scoping guide tube provided with a thread brake, then [581 Field 52 58 57 radially behind the yarn package at this end. and finally axially out of the apparatus in a passage formed in the flyer between two nested sleeves which constitute a tube coaxially surrounding the package. A corrugated stiffening element between the sleeves makes this tube extremely rigid. A scissorlike brake may be 57/5859, 58.61, 58.65, 58.72 58.74, 58.76, 58.78, 58.79, 58.8l, 58.83, 58.86, 34 R. ll5-l l6; l38/l73 [56] References Clted (.losed on the drive whorl and is provided with rollers UNITED STATES PATENTS or bumpers which. in the closed position of the Z/lQZU i n X brakg's arms push the drive be out of engagement 2.l27 92l 8/l938 Kent 57/5874 with the whor] 2.609fi52 9/1952 Hulleux... 57/5883 3.299.623 1/1967 Kcyser 57/5849 x 15 Claims. 12 Drawing Figures PATENTED JUL 2 2 m5 SHEET PATENTED JUL 2 2 I975 sum 2 FIG. 4

PATENTEDJUL22 ms 3.8951484 SHEET 3 :8 9 i 294% Zj 24 a O SHEET PATENTEDJUL 22 ms w FIG.

l SPINNING APPARATUS 1. Field of the lnvcntion The present invention relates to a spinning apparatus. More particularly this invention concerns an apparatus for spinning and/or twisting multi-ply (two or more strands) yarn wherein the yarn package or packages are held still and the filaments are pulled off them by a rotating flyer.

2. Background of the lnvention Yarn-spinning. twisting and plying devices comprise a support on which the yarn package is held. A passage defines an axis through this support and a flyer is driven at high speed about this axis. The package support is mounted on the llyer by means of a bearing and means is provided to prevent rotation of this support when the slyer is rotated.

A suitable means for preventing rotation of the support is frequently one of the greater problems encountered in designing yarn-spinning apparatuses. Indeed when complicated electromagnetic systems are used the expense of this part of the structure often comprises an unrealistically large portion of the price of the overall device.

Another difficulty with such devices is caused by the fact that they are rotated at very high speeds. Hence the yarn. as it is pulled offthc package. is subjected to considerable centrifugal force. In addition each such apparatus generates a stream of air so that when they are used in hanks. as is always the case. the air currents make servicing them uncomfortable. while causing dust and the like to collect in the various spinners. A breakage under such conditions often leads to a stray filament end catching in an adjacent spinner so as to create a considerable tangle.

One of the main causes of yarn breakage is the crisscross winding of the yarn on the spool. so that the thread tension is greater when the yarn is being pulled off the end of the package remote from the takeup eye than when it is close to this eye. It is therefore desirable to tension the yarn as lightly as possible so as to eliminate this breakage as no effective means has been developed for compensating for the varying back tension in the yarn as it is withdrawn from the package.

It is often difficult with such devices to deal with a yarn breakage or replace an empty bobbin core with a full one. Usually a belt drive is used on the whorls ofthe llyers. so that the flyer spindle is simply arrested and the belt permitted to ride on the whorl. Arresting the flycr by hand can be dangerous as this element rotates often at speeds in excess of 10.000 rpm so that it has considerable inertia. Furthermore the operator must hold this tlyer still with one hand as he replaces the yarn package and rethreads the yarn with the other hand. making the operation unduly difficult. Also. the proximity of many other rotating yarn spinners further complicates the operation.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved yarn-spinning apparatusv Another object is the provision of such an apparatus wherein each spinner can be worked on without difficulty when the spinners are mounted in groups.

A further object is the provision of a yarn-spinning apparatus wherein breakage of the filament is greatly reduced and easily remedied when it does occur.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION These objects are attained according to the present invention in a thread-spinning apparatus wherein the S flyer is mounted on a spindle lying along and rotatable about a generally horizontal axis. An off-axial or eccentric counterweight is provided on a yarn support which is carried on and rotatable relative to the spindle so that this support stands still as the spindle is rotated. The tlyer is formed with a passage which opens at one end away from the base of the flyer at the axis and at the other end away from the base but offset from the axis. Thus a yarn filament is pulled off the yarn package. passed back through the passage which itself extends through the center of the yarn package and then passes through the spinning flyer and out of the device. receiving a degree of twist determined by the ratio between the feed rate and the rotation rate.

According to another feature of the invention this passage is formed of a first axially centered part which is half in the spindle and half in a tubular extension of the nonrotatable yarn support. a second radially extending part. and a third axially extending part formed between a pair of cylindrically tubular sleeves nested one within the other and surrounding the yarn package. The two sleeves of this encasing tube are separated. according to this invention. by a corrugated spacer sheet whose corrugations can run circumfcrentially or axially and are bonded by adhesive or welding to the two sleeves. In the case of axially extending corrugations it is possible to simply use one of the corrugations as the third section of the above-described passage. Of course this third section can be annularly cylindrical so that a so-called yarn balloon is formed around the flyer.

ln accordance with yet another feature of this invention a cover is provided which fits snugly with the outer tube and which has an axially centered neck which is mounted in a bearing carried on a pivotal arm secured to the fixed housing of the apparatus. Thus the flyer is supported at both ends to prevent an excessive moment from being applied to the advantageously elasticallyseated bearings journaling the spindle in the fixed frame carrying the whole apparatus. Such a cover further eliminates the chances of filament breakage by completely enclosing the spinner.

According to yet another feature of this invention the spinner can be arrested by a whorl brake comprising a pair of crossing commonly pivoted scissor arms each carrying at one end a brake pad engageable with the whorl and a roller or bumper which pushes the tape out of contact with the whorl. The other ends of the arms are connected together by a foot-operated bowdcn arrangement so that the operator need merely step on a pedal to brake the spinner and push the drive band away from the whorl.

The entire spinner is. according to a further feature of the present invention. enclosed in a can so that air currents generated by each spinner are contained. eliminating drafts at the spinning bank. Each such can or enclosure can be cylindrical or frustoconical with its wider end toward the mounting bearings. A few holes in the base plate cause a sufficient axial flow of air to keep the bearings cool while preventing the formation of strong currents.

Thread breakage is almost entirely eliminated in accordance with the invention by providing the yarn support with a telescoping feed-in or guide tube. A spring (il l urges the mouth of the tube away from the base of the spinner with moderate force so that if the resistance of the filament increases suddenly the tube telescopes inwardly and compensates. A thread brake is provided in this tube also to insure uniform yarn tension.

Such a device is highly efficient and is almost totally trouble free. Breakages are rare and replacement of yarn packages is a simple operation. The elimination of the many drafts and currents of air makes the apparatus less troublesome and easier to work with.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The above and other objects. features. and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the following description. reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. I is an axial section through an embodiment of the spinning apparatus according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a section through an alternative form of a detail of the present invention corresponding to line lI-II of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an end view of a detail of the apparatus as indicated by arrow III of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an axial section through another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an end view of a whorl brake according to the present invention;

FIG. 5a is a detail view showing another embodiment of the brake of FIG. 5;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 of the brake thereof shown in the open or ineffective position;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 5 showing an alternative whorl brake;

FIGS. 8 and 10 are side partly sectional views of two different embodiments of feed tube according to this invention; and

FIGS. 9 and 11 are views ofthe tubes of FIGS. 8 and 10, respectively, but showing the tubes partly collapsed.

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION As shown in FIG. I a spinning apparatus is mounted on a rectangular-section beam 10 and has a pair of bearings 12:: and 12b supporting a horizontal spindle 14 provided on one end with a whorl I6 adapted to be engaged by a flat belt 18 so as to rotate it about its horizontal axis A at a rate of at least 10,000 revolutions per minute. A pair of ball bearings 20a and 20h on the spindle I4 carry a generally frustoconical yarn support 22. A tube or sleeve 24 centered on the axis A is carried on the support 22 and encloses a yarn package 26 whose core 24 is frustoconical and pressed over the support 22. A loose two-ply yarn 68 is wound on the core 24.

The spindle 14 is provided with a flyer 32 comprising a base disk 28 provided on its face turned away from the whorl I6 with an elastomeric insulating disk 30 on which is received a cup-shaped outer tube 36 in which is received a similarly cupshaped inner tube 34. The base 40 of the outer tube 36 is cemented to the vibration-damping disk 30 and the base 38 of the inner tube 34 is cemented to a metal disk 48 which is in turn secured to the base 40. Provided between the tubes 34 and 36 is a corrugated sleeve 42 whose corrugations extend circumfcrentially and have inner crests 44 bonded to the inner tube 34 and outer valleys 46 bonded to the inside of the outer tube 36. The flyer 32 is extremely stiff and resistant to bending relative to the axis A due to this construction.

The inner and outer tubes or shells 34 and 36 are made of aluminum having a thickness of between 0.2 and 1.2 mm. preferably between 0.3 and 0.6 mm and here about 0.3 mm. The inner diameter of the tube 34 is between 150 and 420 mm. here about 200 mm. and the spacing between the two tubes 34 and 36 is between 5 and 15 mm. here about 8 mm. The corrugated spacer 42 is made of aluminum of the same thickness and is welded to both shells.

A radial slot 50 formed in the spacing disk 48 opens at its inner end in an axial bore 60 formed in the end of spindle 14 and at its other end in an axial passage 52 formed between the two tubes 34 and 36. A stiffening ring 54 engaged over the end of the inner tube 34. which is substantially axially shorter than the outer tube 36, is formed with a hole 56 (See FIG. 3) which constitutes the other end of the passage. The ring 54 is cut away at 57 to counterbalance the hole 56. The region S8 of the outer tube 36 beyond the inner tube 34 is highly polished and has :1 rolled edge 59 so that the filament 68 which will lie helically on it cannot snag on it. This filament 68 is drawn off the yarn packet 26 and passes axially through a guide tube 64 mounted on the support 22 and provided with a thread brake 62 as described in the commonly assigned US. Pat. application Ser. No. 188,335 filed Oct. 12,1971 and now U.S. Pat. No. 3,742,693 issued July 3. I973. Thereafter it enters the passage 60, 50, 52 and issues from the apparatus through a fixed eye in line with the axis A.

The whorl l6. and hence the spindle 14, is rotated at high speed by the belt 18 so that a high degree of twist is imparted to the filament 68. The support 22 and yarn package 26 are prevented from rotating themselves by an eccentric weight 66 which is secured to the base of the support 20 and which has a center of gravity 67 normally lying below the axis A. This offset weight 66 overcomes any entrainment of the support 22 through the bearings 20a and 2011 or by air currents in the device.

The entire assembly described above is received in a light metal (aluminum) can 72 which is fixed on the support 10 and prevents the whirling spinners from generating currents of air that might cause problems in working with a whole bank of such devices.

The distance between the eye 56 and the eye 70 is the only region in the present device where the thread is subjected to any significant air resistance. since otherwise it is enclosed in the passage 60. 50. 52 in the flyer 32. This distance is very short so that chances of breakage are sharply reduced. and a very light thread tension can be employed. This is of particular interest with extremely weak yarns.

FIG. 2 shows a flyer 132 whose two tubes 134 and 136 are separated by a corrugated element 142 whose corrugations run parallel to the axis of the device. A pair of axially extending U-section bars 172 are pro vided between the ends of the longitudinally corrugated separator 142 to define a passage 152.

The apparatus of FIG. 4 has a spindle 214 mounted on a pair of bearings 212a and 212i; carried on a sup port beam 2I0 and is provided on one end with a whorl 216 driven by a flat belt 218 and on its other end with a flyer 232 similar to the flyer 32 of FIG. 1.

This flyer 232 has an outer tube 236 which is stepped outwardly at 279 and receives the rim 276 of a bell 274. An O-ring 278 makes the fit between the rim 276 and step 279 snug. This bell 274 is basically hemispherical and constitutes a cover for the flyer 232 which rotates with this cover 274. It is formed with a neck 275 supported in a bearing 286 in an eye 282 in the end of an arm 284. This arm is privoted on the fixed shield 272 at 288 and is formed with a lug 287 provided with a pin 285 connected to a pin 283 on the support 272 by means of a tension spring 289. The pins 283 and 285 do not lie in a line with the pivot 288 in either the solidline closed position of the cover 274 or in the dot-dash open position thereof. Thus this spring 289 acts as a toggle to maintain the cover in either of these positions.

The neck 275 is provided with a pair of interfitted elements 271 and 273 that define an axial hole 280 through the cover 274. The sleeve element 273 and the ring element 271'fitted thereon are very smooth inside to prevent the filament 268 formed from filaments 268' and 268 drawn off respective yarn packages from snagging and breaking.

This arrangement relieves the bearings 212a and 212/: of the stresses caused by the horizontal position of the flyer 232. The bearing 21212 is cushioned by rubher ring 213. In addition the thread 268 is enclosed for all of the distance where it is not running perfectly axially. so that air resistance is again reduced and a very light thread tension maybe employed. The housing 272 is frustoconical and wider near the base 269 which is perforated at 267 for cooling of bearings 212a and 212/1. shown seated in rubber washers 213.

FIG. 5 shows a whorl brake usable with the embodiment of FIG. 2. The belt 218 runs over two idler wheels 217 to each side of the whorl 216 and the belt as shown in FIG. 6 normally engages this whorl 216 tangentially to drive it.

A pair of scissor arms 290a and 290!) are pivoted on the beam 210 at the horizontal pivot 211. These arms carry respective fiber pads 292a and 292i) which engage the whorl 216 when they are closed thereon (FIG. 5) and with rollers 294a and 29411 which push the belt 218 of the tape drive away from this whorl in this closed position. Instead of the rollers 294a and 294/) each arm can be provided with a bumper as shown at 296:: in FIG. Su. Such a bumper is made of polytetrafluoroethylene or some similar material with a very low coefficient of friction.

The other ends of the arms 290a and 29011 are connected together by a bowden arrangement with the core cable 298 attached to the arm 290/1 and the sheath 300 connected to the arm 2900. A compression spring 302 urges these two ends apart and. therefore. biases the brake into the open or ineffective position shown at FIG. 6.

The other end of the bowdcn is connected between a pedal 304 pivoted on the floor at 306 and a support 310. A compression spring 308 of relatively weak force is provided to keep the system tight. and another stiffer spring 312 is braced between the fixed support 310 and the end 299 of the cable 298. This latter spring 312 insures that both arms 290a and 2901) move rather than just one of them. Depression of the pedal 304 displaces the sleeve 300 relative to the cable to compress the spring 302 thereby bringing the ends of the arms 290a and 2901) together. This pushes the pads 292a and 292/? against the whorl 216 and pushes the belt 218 out of contact with this whorl so that the belt rides on the rollers 294a and 29411 instead. This arrangement is used when a yarn package must be changed or when the filament breaks and must be rethreaded.

In FIG. 7 a substantially similar device is shown with two arms 490a and 490!) whose ends are connected by a pair of rigid links 4910 49 lb pivoted together at 495. A tension spring 496 between the pivot 41] of the arms 490a and 49011 biases the arms apart. A solenoid 493 operable by a switch 497 connected to line is itselfeonnected to the pivot 495 such that on energization is pulls the pivot 495 away from the pivot 41] and closes the jaws 492a and 49211 on the whorl 216.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show a guide tube 564 which can be used in place of the guide tube 64 of FIG. I. This tube 564 telescopes in the housing 562 for the thread brake. A compression spring 567 is compressed between the element 562 and a shoulder 563 on the tube 564 so that as the thread tension momentarily increases. due to excess size in the yarn or a like condition. this tube 564 can move inwardly to compensate for the momentary difference. thereby avoiding annoying breakage in the filament.

A similar type of compensator 664 is shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. Here a tube 671 surrounding a fixed tube 669 is urgend outwardly by a compression spring 677 in a manner similar to that of tube 564. The tube 669 is formed with an outstanding ridge 670 that prevents the tube 671 from coming off. An insert 673 at the top of the tube 671 has a tubular extension 675 fitting within the bore 660 defined by the guide so as to prevent the filament 668 from ever catching in the spring 667.

The thread brake 662 is shown. It comprises an extensible lozenge 678 formed of two telescoping shells 679 and 680 between which a spring 681 is com pressed. This lozenge 678 fits between two frustoconi cal seats 682 and 683 formed in the passage 660. Thus the filament 668 is pinched above and below the lozenge 678 and the braking effect is adjusted by screwing the outer sleeve 684 housing the brake 662 down onto the hollow rod 685 which is attached to the yarn package support.

We claim:

1. A thread-spinning apparatus comprising;

a spindle lying along and rotatable about a generally horizontal axis.

a flyer having a base attached to said spindle and a sleeve extending axially from said base, said spindle and said flyer being formed with a passage opening axially at one end away from said base at said axis and opening axially at the other end away from said base at a location offset from said axis;

a thread support carried on and rotatable relative to said spindle. said support being provided with an eccentric weight, whereby said weight prevents said support from rotating 2. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said element has corrugations extending parallel to said axis.

3. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said element has corrugations extending circumferentially of said axis.

4. The apparatus defined in claim I, further comprising a centering ring between the end of said inner tube turned away from said base and said outer tube. said ring being formed with a hole in line with said passage and constituting a portion thereof.

5. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said centering ring is formed as a balance equalizer with at least one cutout diametrically opposite said hole.

6. The apparatus defined in claim I wherein said tubes and said stiffening element are comprised of 5 sheet metal between 0.2 mm and 1.2 mm thick.

7. The apparatus defined in claim 6 wherein said tubes and said stiffening element are welded together.

8. The apparatus defined in claim 6 wherein said tubes and said stiffening element are cemented together.

9. The apparatus defined in claim I wherein said tubes are each formed with a tube base. said passage extending between said tube bases. said t'lyer further comprising an elastomeric insulating disk between said tube bases and said flyer base.

10. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein the outer tube of said tubes extends beyond the inner tube of said tubes in a direction away from said base.

ll. The apparatus defined in claim I. further eomprising a frame supporting said spindle. and a housing surrounding said sleeve and opening axially away from said base.

12. The apparatus defined in claim 1. further comprising a frame and at least one elastically mounted bearing between said frame and said spindle.

13. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said support is provided with an axial guide tube constituting part of said passage and having two telescoping tube sections and a spring urging said sections apart. whereby irregularities in tension of said filament between said brake and said pack are compensated by telescoping expansion and compression of said guide tube.

14. The apparatus defined in claim I. further comprising a second axially extending tube mounted on said support and surrounding said pack.

15. A thread-spinning apparatus comprising:

a spindle lying along and rotatable about a generally horizontal axis;

a tlyer having a base attached to said spindle and a sleeve extending axially from said base. said spindle and said tlyer being formed with a passage opening axially at one end away from said base at said axis and opening axially at the other end away from said base at a location offset from said axis;

a thread support carried on and rotatable relative to said spindle. said support being provided with an eccentric weight. whereby said weight prevents said support from rotating with said spindle:

an axial tube on said support extending axially away from said one end of said passage and provided with a thread brake. whereby a filament from a yarn pack carried on said support passes axially through said tube toward said base then through said passage. issuing axially from said apparatus out of said other end.

a bell cover engagcable with the end of said sleeve remote from said base and formed with a hole lying on said axis and a neck surrounding said hole;

a frame supporting said spindle:

an arm pivotal on said frame; and

bearing means on said arm surrounding said neck for rotation of said cover with said sleeve about said axis.

UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION PATENT NO. 3,895,484

DATED 22 July 1975 INVENTOR(S) Grieve et 1 It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below: The left side of 4 is Corrected to appear as follows:-

FIG. 4

Signed and Scaled this twenty-fourth D ay Or February 19 76 [SEAL] A es 1:

RUTH C. MASON 1 rreslr'ng Officer C. MARSHALL DANN ('nmmissimu'r uflulcms and Tradwnurks 

1. A thread-spinning apparatus comprising: a spindle lying along and rotatable about a generally horizontal axis; a flyer having a base attached to said spindle and a sleeve extending axially from said base, said spindle and said flyer being formed with a passage opening axially at one end away from said base at said axis and opening axially at the other end away from said base at a location offset from said axis; a thread support carried on and rotatable relative to said spindle, said support being provided with an eccentric weight, whereby said weight prevents said support from rotating
 2. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said element has corrugations extending parallel to said axis.
 3. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said element has corrugations extending circumferentially of said axis.
 4. The apparatus defined in claim 1, further comprising a centering ring between the end of said inner tube turned away from said base and said outer tube, said ring being formed with a hole in line with said passage and constituting a portion thereof.
 5. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said centering ring is formed as a balance equalizer with at least one cutout diametrically opposite said hole.
 6. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said tubes and said stiffening element are comprised of sheet metal between 0.2 mm and 1.2 mm thick.
 7. The apparatus defined in claim 6 wherein said tubes and said stiffening element are welded together.
 8. The apparatus defined in claim 6 wherein said tubes and said stiffening element are cemented together.
 9. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said tubes are each formed with a tube base, said passage extending between said tube bases, said flyer further comprising an elastomeric insulating disk between said tube bases and said flyer base.
 10. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein the outer tube of said tubes extends beyond the inner tube of said tubes in a direction away from said base.
 11. The apparatus defined in claim 1, further comprising a frame supporting said spindle, and a housing surrounding said sleeve and opening axially away from said base.
 12. The apparatus defined in claim 1, further comprising a frame and at least one elastically mounted bearing between said frame and said spindle.
 13. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said support is provided with an axial guide tube constituting part of said passage and having two telescoping tube sections and a spring urging said sections apart, whereby irregularities in tension of said filament between said brake and said pack are compensated by telescoping expansion and compression of said guide tube.
 14. The apparatus defined in claim 1, further comprising a second axially extending tube mounted on said support and surrounding said pack.
 15. A thread-spinning apparatus comprising: a spindle lying along and rOtatable about a generally horizontal axis; a flyer having a base attached to said spindle and a sleeve extending axially from said base, said spindle and said flyer being formed with a passage opening axially at one end away from said base at said axis and opening axially at the other end away from said base at a location offset from said axis; a thread support carried on and rotatable relative to said spindle, said support being provided with an eccentric weight, whereby said weight prevents said support from rotating with said spindle; an axial tube on said support extending axially away from said one end of said passage and provided with a thread brake, whereby a filament from a yarn pack carried on said support passes axially through said tube toward said base, then through said passage, issuing axially from said apparatus out of said other end, a bell cover engageable with the end of said sleeve remote from said base and formed with a hole lying on said axis and a neck surrounding said hole; a frame supporting said spindle; an arm pivotal on said frame; and bearing means on said arm surrounding said neck for rotation of said cover with said sleeve about said axis. 